How does the immune system know we catch a virus/disease? And how does it attack the virus/disease?
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The immune system is able to recognize and respond to viruses and other infectious agents because it has specialized cells and molecules that can detect and identify these foreign invaders. When a virus or other pathogen enters the body, it triggers an immune response in which the body’s immune cells and molecules work together to identify and attack the invader. The specific details of how this process works can vary depending on the type of pathogen and the specifics of the immune response, but in general, here’s how it works:
1. When a virus or other pathogen enters the body, it is typically first detected by specialized immune cells called antigen-presenting cells (APCs). These cells are able to recognize the pathogen and take it up into their own cells, where they begin to process it.
2. As part of this process, the APCs break the pathogen down into smaller pieces, called antigens. They then present these antigens on their surface, along with special proteins called major histocompatibility complexes (MHCs).
3. The presence of these antigens and MHCs on the surface of the APCs alerts the body’s immune system to the presence of the pathogen. This triggers the activation of other immune cells, such as T-cells and B-cells, which are specifically designed to recognize and attack the pathogen.
4. Once activated, these immune cells begin to proliferate and produce molecules and substances that can directly kill the pathogen, or that can help to neutralize it. For example, T-cells can release chemicals called cytokines that can directly kill infected cells, while B-cells can produce antibodies that can neutralize the pathogen and prevent it from spreading.
5. The combination of these immune responses ultimately leads to the elimination of the pathogen from the body, and the restoration of the body’s normal, healthy state.
In summary, the immune system is able to recognize and attack viruses and other infectious agents by using specialized cells and molecules that can detect and identify these foreign invaders, and then activate the appropriate immune response to eliminate them.
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